Populism is on the rise and fake news have become a reality we see e.g. in Europe, the United States, the Philippines, Israel, and Australia. These new realities will have a devastating impact on democracy and on values we have been fighting for: gender equality, fighting discrimination, promoting rights of minorities, tolerance, freedom of media, and social justice. Progressives of all continents are facing the very same issues. As an international political movement we must stand together and develop common answers and strategies to counter populism.

Different factors like the general dissatisfaction with the political system and mainstream politicians in particular, insecurity about the future, the effects of the financial and economic crisis and the unequal distribution of wealth, in some cases mixed with concerns about migration, have created the grounds for Brexit and the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president.

This seminar will facilitate an exchange among international progressives and try to come up with new ways to counter these trends.